(Janine Weber – MyWSports.com)

Former New York Riveters forward Janine Weber signed with the Boston Pride. Weber will play in the 2017-2018 season of the National Women’s Hockey League on Tuesday.

Weber, the Riveters leading scorer and Austrian National Team member will be headed back to the New England area following two seasons in the New York Metropolitan area. The Innsbruck, Austria native played one season at Providence College, while attending graduate school. She then played for the Boston Blades of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League.

With the Blades, she scored the game winning goal helping her team capture the 2015 Clarkson Cup. Fellow Austrian native and former National Hockey League defenseman, Thomas Poeck, was recently named head coach for Weber’s new club.

Weber said, “The New England area has always felt like home for me since I came to the United States. It is where my boyfriend lives, so this was a tough decision but one that was best for me. I am really going to miss my teammates on the Riveters and all the fans in the New Jersey and New York. Those two years were very special to me. I look forward to becoming part of the Pride and being coached by Thomas Poeck, whose career I have followed for a long time.”

In 17 games with the Riveters during the 2016-2017 season, she scored 10 goals and 12 assists. She put up three goals and six assists in 18 games during her first season.

After attending training camp in 2015 with the Connecticut Whale, Weber became the first player to ink a deal with the Riveters. She also became the first to sign an NWHL contract.

With one year of college eligibility remaining, she played 35 games for the Providence Friars, while studying for a Masters in Urban Teaching. The five-foot-six forward scored six goals and five assists for the Friars.

Prior to her collegiate career, Weber developed her play in several Austrian girls’ hockey leagues and teams. This included the Vienna Sabres of the Elite Women’s Hockey League. Which is a part of the International Ice Hockey Federation, consisting of teams from several central European countries. With the Sabres she put up 182 points in 81 games.

Poeck added, “I have heard many great things about Janine’s skill and determination, so I am looking forward to working with her. She will be a big part of the Pride.”  

The NWHL is slated to face off in October with the Pride, Riveters, Whale and defending Isobel Cup Champions. This includes playing a full slate of home games. Although there are a few neutral site matchups as the league looks to grow the game even further.